27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
– Have you hardened your heart to a person or situation?
– Is God calling you to open your heart in those instances?
– What gifts has god Given you as a child of God? How do you use those gifts?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100222.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.
If you are interested in being involved in this ministry, please email Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, OCTOBER 1/2 (& week of October 2)
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD will be offered during the 10:30am Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. All children ages PreK-4th grade are welcome to join us. CLoW is a worship experience geared especially for their age level. It mirrors the worship experience of the larger community in an engaging and interactive style. This opportunity allows children to hear Scripture in words they understand and to share their own understanding of God’s Word. Children will be called to come forward before the First Reading. They will return to you after the General Intercessions. All catechists and assistants have a cleared background check. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Erica Taylor @ 653-4101.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: Join us along with your furry, fuzzy, scaly, hard shelled, long haired, short haired beloved pets this Sunday, October 2nd at 12:15 pm for the Blessing of Animals as we celebrate and honor St. Francis of Assisi. Gather on the grass triangle across from the main church entrance. There is a good chance of rain on Sunday. If we need to cancel this event, it will be announced at the 10:30 am Mass and posted on our Parish Website www.saintpolycarp.org.
AGAPE: This Sunday, October 2nd following the 10:30 am Mass in the hall. All are invited to come join us as we “Welcome the Fall Season”. Come and enjoy a delicious lunch, fun and fellowship! Hosted by our PSR program. Hope to see you there!
RESPECT FOR LIFE MINISTRY: What does baby formula, coat drives and blanket drives all have in common? Please join a Respect for Life Ministry meeting this Tuesday, October 4th at 7 pm in the Parish Library to discuss possibilities for this new ministry. OCTOBER IS REPECT FOR LIFE MONTH
BIRTHRIGHT’S ANNUAL BOTTLES FOR BABIES FUNDRAISER: Throughout the whole month of October, “Respect Life month”, Birthright of Delaware hosts its Annual Bottles for Babies Fundraiser. Beginning this weekend, baby bottles will be available at all the entrances to Church. We ask you to please take one or two bottles home and/or give it to a loved one. Please read the insert, fill it out as neatly as possible (if you chose to do so for a tax credit) then fill the bottle with loose change, cash or a check! Checks should be made payable to Birthright of Delaware. Return them at the end of October or sooner. Proceeds benefit pregnant women and their babies. On behalf of our mothers, Birthright staff and volunteers, we graciously Thank You!
DID YOU MISS THE ANNUAL FORUM? Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/annual-forum-september-25-2022/ to view the PowerPoint presentation and pictures from this parish event.
ADULT FAITH FORMATION – CONNECTED IN CHRIST: Parishioners are continuing to view the video series, The Wild Goose every Tuesday after the 8:30 Mass. Come join us. If you have any questions, please call Cookie Ruane at 302-540-6429.
BROTHER VINCENT COUNCIL 7517 meets in St Polycarp Library at 7:30 pm, THIS Thursday, October 6th. The Rosary begins at 7:00 PM and is followed by the meeting at 7:30 PM. Meeting proceedings are zoomed for those who cannot attend in person. A meeting reminder with zoom instructions will be sent by KofC.org email. Brothers, your attendance at Council meetings is encouraged so that we may fulfill our mission.
Brother Vincent Council is now running a fund raiser. Delicious TerriLynn nuts and confections. https://council-7517-kofc.terrilynn.com/ They make great gifts. Please support your Council.
SHARE IN THE SPIRIT: Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the diocesan Share in the Spirit tuition assistance collection last week. For those of you who have not yet participated, you may still contribute to the Share in the Spirit collection for tuition assistance. Please drop your envelope in the collection basket or parish office or, visit the Share in the Spirit website at www.cdow.org/sharespirit.html and click on “Ways to Give.” This important collection supports the mission and ministry of our Catholic schools by assisting parents who seek a Catholic education for their children but who struggle to afford the full cost of tuition. Your support is gratefully appreciated.
2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL UPDATE: WE REACHED OUR GOAL! WAY TO GO ST. POLYCARP PARISH! A huge “Thank you” to everyone who graciously donated to the appeal. Special thanks to our anonymous donor whose offer to match recent gifts aided us tremendously in attaining our goal! You, our parish family, have been extremely generous in supporting our Bishop in the Annual Catholic Appeal. Thank you for your generosity and sacrifice in reaching our parish target of $60,000. The parishioners of St. Polycarp Church continue the noble heritage of supporting the Diocese and are an example to be followed! Now that we have met our target, ½ of the money over our target, will come back to our Church to be used for special projects here at St. Polycarp. Please remember the importance of submitting your payments for these pledges. Our budget this year continues to be challenged by the drop in offertory income. If you have not participated in this Annual Appeal, we ask that you please consider supporting the diocese and St. Polycarp Church by pledging now.
NEXT WEEKEND, OCTOBER 8/9 (& week of October 2)
BROTHER VINCENT COLUMBIETTES are selling Boscov Passes again this year. Profits from these sales help Brother Vincent Columbiettes support our many charitable activities. The Columbiettes will be at the doors of the Church after Masses on the weekend of October 8/9. This event is Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at any Boscov store.
YOUR $5.00 SHOPPING PASS BUYS A FULL DAY OF
~ 25% Off Discount Shopping Pass
~ A Chance to Win Fabulous Door Prizes
Contact Beth Bishop at (845) 443-1799 or BishopLBV@aol.com; or ask any Brother Vincent Columbiette.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
WEEKDAY MASSES: Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:30 am..
The BLESSING OF MARRIED COUPLES will take place on Saturday, October 15th, at the 4:00 pm Mass.
ROSARY RALLY: Please join the 2022 Rosary Rally. Our nation needs public prayer, repentance and conversion. We will be praying the Rosary on Saturday, October 15th, noon at Saint Polycarp Church outside by the statue of Mary.
EXTRAORDIANRY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION: To coincide with the three-year National Eucharist Revival which began in June of this year, we will be holding a class on Saturday, 
October 22nd at 9:00 am for all people interested in the ministry of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. This class is for Extraordinary Ministers of St. Polycarp who have not returned since pre-covid days, Extraordinary Ministers who have transferred here from another parish and new people who feel a love and desire for the Eucharist and want to be a part of this beautiful ministry. To attend you must contact Cindy Kennedy at kennedy-078@msn.com prior to this event to register and get further information.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AT SEA PROGRAM: Last year Saint Polycarp Parish was able to donate 50 “ditty” boxes to help the Seaman’s Center of Wilmington bring a little “Merry” into the Christmas of these crew members. This year we hope to donate even more. From October 1 through October 30, there will be a collection bin in the hallway. Please consider donating the following NEW/FULL sized items: knit hats and scarves, winter gloves, warm socks, sewing kits, deodorant, hand lotion, soap, shampoo, shaving cream, disposable razors, toothbrush and toothpaste, combs, chapstick, playing cards. Monetary donations are welcome and will be used to purchase additional items to make certain each box is complete. Cash and Checks (payable to “St. Polycarp” should be placed in an envelope marked “Christmas at Sea” and can be put into the collection basket, or the black box located under the portico. We also have the option to accept donations through Faith Direct. If you have any questions, please contact Tracie Bruno by phone (302)242-4150 or by email Tracie.Bruno@comcast.net
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! Is there someone you would like to invite to explore the Catholic faith— someone unbaptized, or baptized in a non-Catholic Christian tradition? Do you know someone who needs Confirmation and/or First Eucharist? Perhaps, the Catholic faith can fulfill their desires for a closer relationship with Our Lord. Then, the RCIA process is for them. Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information. DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653-8279.
Have you had the opportunity to dive into FORMED? To sign up visit www.formed.org. Type in our Parish zip code (19977) and follow the steps to sign up or you can use the QR code below. Take advantage of your free subscription to FORMED! Enjoy thousands of hours of quality Catholic content! 
GLUTEN FREE? Do you have an intolerance to gluten? If so, our parish offers gluten-free wafers to be consecrated for you. Please see our Sacristan 10 – 15 minutes before Mass and let them know that you need a gluten-free wafer put in the pyx. At Communion, please process down the aisle to the priest who will have the pyx in his hand and let him know you need a gluten-free host
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/ October 9 at 10:30 am Mass – Kaczorowski.
REDNER’S MARKETS 1% SAVE-A-TAPE FUNDRAISER: Turn your food shopping into cash for our parish. Simply be sure to obtain and scan your Redner’s Rewards Card each time you shop. Save your whole receipt. Bring your receipts to the Parish Office or put them into the collection basket. There is no expiration date – you can turn in receipts months old!
BULLETIN SPONSORS: Thank you to all of our weekly bulletin sponsors for your support during the year! Your support has not gone unnoticed by our parish community and is so appreciated!
USEFUL LINKS:
WEBSITE: www.saintpolycarp.org.
BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: https://saintpolycarp.org/this-weeks-bulletin/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SaintPolycarpCatholicChurch/
ONLINE GIVING: Please consider becoming an e-giver. It is easy to make your weekly or one time contributions in support of the Parish. For more information and to sign up for online giving, visit faith.direct/DE831
ST DENNIS: http://www.stdennischurch.org
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
FOR THE SAKE OF GOD’S CHILDREN: https://www.cdow.org/giving/fsgc/
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
EWTN: ewtn.com
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. On tomorrow’s episode, Saturday, October 1st, learn about Maryland Catholic Conference Executive Director, Jenny Kraska’s recent visit to war-torn Ukraine. CLICK HERE You can listen online at cdow.org/CatholicForum, or by searching “Catholic Forum” on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon Music podcasts. “Like” Catholic Forum on Facebook at facebook.com/CatholicForum @CatholicForum.
MARRIAGE MOMENTS: October is Domestic Violence Month. Hopefully violence does not directly impact your marriage, but perhaps you are called to help someone else – a neighbor, relative, or stranger. Click the Domestic Violence hotline(the hotline.org/…) to find out how to help.
PARENTING POINTERS: Jesus healed 10 lepers but only 1 returned and thanked Him. (Luke 17:11-19) Although few people see lepers today, it’s always worth thanking our family members and God for an act of kindness. Do it today.
LET US PRAY: St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.